Having a terrible time with MTN prepaid

[Masant_ZA]

So I've been struggling for half a week to switch over to MTN prepaid from Vodacom. I have Rica'd my new SIM twice now (today I will try for the third time). I went to the MTN store in centurion yesterday and had them help me to port my number from vodacom (I can't send sms at vodacom currently). The helpful lady said that it should be working from midnight but lo and behold nothing has happened yet.
If I try to use any USSD codes to do anything it says network error and if I try a call it says service has been RICA barred.

Can anyone tell me what I am/was supposed to do or what I can do to get this thing working ?

 

[cavedog]

If you can't send a sms from your Vodacom number it would be hard to port to MTN and hence the issues you are facing. The best way is to SMS to port.

 

[marioat1]

So I've been struggling for half a week to switch over to MTN prepaid from Vodacom. I have Rica'd my new SIM twice now (today I will try for the third time). I went to the MTN store in centurion yesterday and had them help me to port my number from vodacom (I can't send sms at vodacom currently). The helpful lady said that it should be working from midnight but lo and behold nothing has happened yet.
If I try to use any USSD codes to do anything it says network error and if I try a call it says service has been RICA barred.

Can anyone tell me what I am/was supposed to do or what I can do to get this thing working ?

Was your vodacom sim contract or prepaid? Was this number ricad with your id number?

 

[Masant_ZA]

Was your vodacom sim contract or prepaid? Was this number ricad with your id number?

I was on Vodacom contract and converted to vodacom prepaid because MTN told me the transfer would be easier. This alone took like a month but whatever. Thing is when you convert from contract to prepaid apparently I have to RICA the new SIM. So I decided to just go straight to MTN, get a new SIM and RICA with them and port my number in one shot. I asked the MTN personnel if I can do this and they said sure its easy and its great so lets do this thing-I specifically mentioned that my Vodacom SIM could not send SMS which did not bother them..

Update from yesterday. I went to MTN again and the helpful gentlemen checked on my number and told me that Vodacom was holding on to my number. He also confirmed that the RICA for my new SIM was definitely valid and processed. Then I sauntered over to the Vodacom shop and their employee told me that they cannot do anything about that in the store and that I should call the 111 number. He also said that there shouldn't be an issue from their side and that he was surprised MTN said that. So I get home and call the number from someone else's phone to call the number and after some wait they inform me that the porting of my number call only came through at 14:00 (I was at work then). They also said it should be completed within 24 hours.

My phone is still not getting any network as of now.